When Bourke hit 44.8 °C at 4pm in October, breaking New South Wales’ all-time October temperature record, it was a stark reminder of how sharply heat is intensifying across the Western Plains.

The record-breaking temperature, measured in the Upper Western forecast district, surpassed the previous October record of 43.9 °C set at Brewarrina, highlighting how extreme heat is increasingly occurring outside the traditional summer months.

That local milestone forms part of a broader national pattern outlined in a new preliminary climate summary from the Bureau of Meteorology, which confirms 2025 was Australia’s fourth-warmest year on record, with national temperatures 1.23 °C above the 1961–1990 average.

Climatology Specialist Nadine D’Argent said the result followed Australia’s second-warmest year in 2024 and reflected a continued long-term warming trend consistent with global patterns.

“Annual average soil moisture was above the 1911–2025 average across some northern and eastern parts of the country, but below the annual average for large parts of southern Australia,” Ms D’Argent said.

“Most of the country's surface water storages decreased due to dry conditions and low inflows," she said.

"However, surface water storage levels increased in northern New South Wales and the Menindee Lakes following above average rain in large parts of Queensland and coastal areas of New South Wales."

Heatwaves a defining feature of 2025

Across much of inland New South Wales, including the Western Plains, prolonged heat was a defining feature of the year.

Between January and March, and again from October to December, large parts of Australia experienced heatwave conditions, reaching extreme severity at times.

Bourke hit the records books, recording an extreme temperature of 44.8 degrees in October last year (Image: Weatherzone)

Every month in 2025 recorded temperatures above the long-term average, with January, February, March and October all ranking among the five warmest on record for their respective months.

Australia’s warmest year remains 2019, when the national annual average temperature reached 1.51 °C above average.

Despite the heat, the national average annual rainfall in 2025 was 7.8 per cent above average, at 502.2 mm, though rainfall distribution varied significantly across the country.

Rainfall was below average across much of inland and southern New South Wales, including large parts of the Western Plains, contributing to dry conditions that affected cropping, pasture growth and inflows into rivers and storages.

In contrast, rainfall was above average along coastal New South Wales and in northern NSW, while Queensland recorded its wettest year since 2011, with rainfall 31 per cent above average.

Tasmania experienced its driest year since 2017, while South Australia recorded its driest year since 2019.

Water storages decline

Water resource data shows ongoing pressure across inland catchments.

By the end of 2025, Australia’s total surface water storage stood at 68.2 per cent of accessible capacity, down from 73 per cent at the end of 2024.

Annual streamflow was below the 1975–2025 average across large areas of north-western and southern Australia, while streamflow was above average across much of northern NSW, underscoring the sharp contrast between northern and southern catchments.

Soil moisture levels were below average across large parts of southern Australia, including southern New South Wales, but above average in some northern and eastern regions.

According to the State of the Climate 2024 report, Australia’s climate has warmed by an average of 1.51 ± 0.23 °C since national records began in 1910.

The Bureau says the full Annual Climate Statement for 2025 will be released in early February, with preliminary state and territory data already available here.

For Western Plains communities, the findings highlight the growing challenge of managing extreme heat, variable rainfall and water security as climate pressures continue to intensify across inland New South Wales.